Managing 'sinirapan' Mistichthys luzonensis Smith in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur: Insights from its biology and population dynamics
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Abstract
The population dynamics and related aspects of the biology of 'sinarapan' Mistichthys luzonensis Smith, the world's smallest commercial fish, are used as basis in formulating management strategies for this goby in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur. Mesh size limit (4.1mm) and catch limit, estimated through length-based analytic fishery methods, are proposed. Yield-per-recruit analysis using length-frequency data for 11 months provided the quantitative indices used in estimating fishing limits. Closed season for 'sinarapan' was established from temporal pattern of recruitment and the reproductive biology of the species. Much of the data on 'sinarapan' came from studies in Lake Manapao. To improve the recruitment success of 'sinarapan', a habitat enhancement scheme in Lake Buhi is hereby recommended.
Suggested Citation
Soliman, V. S., & Sergio, M. F. H. A. (2001). Managing 'sinarapan' Mistichthys luzonensis Smith in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur: Insights from its biology and population dynamics. In C. B. Santiago, M. L. Cuvin-Aralar, & Z. U. Basiao (Eds.), Conservation and Ecological Management of Philippine Lakes in Relation to Fisheries and Aquaculture (pp. 113-122). Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines: Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center; Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines: Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), Department of Science and Technology; Quezon City, Philippines: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines.
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Conference paperISBN
9718511539Related items
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The decline of native fishes and fisheries and the rise of aquaculture in lakes and rivers in the Philippines
Bagarinao, Teodora
(Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center; Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD), Department of Science and Technology; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 2001)
This paper reviews historical and recent data on biodiversity, fisheries, exotic fishes, and aquaculture in Philippine lakes and rivers. The country's lakes and rivers are poor in primary freshwater fishes because the Philippines' only connection with the Asian mainland had been through land bridges between Borneo, the Sulu islands, Mindanao, Palawan and Mindoro - in which islands endemic carps have evolved. Philippine lakes and rivers instead have secondary freshwater fishes such as gobies, migratory marine fishes such as mullets, and some snails, clams, and prawns. Most lakes and rivers have been severely degraded and their biodiversity reduced by siltation, pollution, overfishing, and the establishment of exotic fishes from other countries or elsewhere in the country. Many fishes first described in the Philippines in 1910-1940 by Seale, Herre, and Filipino ichthyologists have not been collected in recent years. The Laguna de Bay fishery in the early 1960s was largely dependent on the 'ayungin' Therapon plumbeus, 'biyang puti' Glossogobius giurus, and the 'kanduli' Arius manilensis that together comprised 95% of the annual 83,000 mt; another 19,000 mt came from shrimps and 245,000 mt from snails. Fishing and snail-dredging were so intense that catches declined and the whole lake fishery collapsed around 1970. After the collapse, the primary production of the lake increased and milkfish and tilapia became natural choices for aquaculture. Lake Lanao became famous for its species flock of 18 endemic carps, but these are now extinct, except perhaps two species. In 1963, these carps contributed 981 mt to the fishery, other native fishes 269 mt, shrimps and snails 257 mt, and introduced fishes 479 mt. Twenty years later, endemic carps have made up only 92 mt, native fishes 141 mt, shrimps and snails 164 mt, and introduced fishes 312 mt of the harvest from the lake. The 'kadurog' G. giurus, probably stocked in the lake with milkfish larvae in 1955, proliferated in the 1960s and apparently drove the endemic carps to extinction. The 'katolong' Hypseleotris agilis was first seen in the lake in 1977 and has since outcompeted the 'kadurog'. In Lakes Taal and Naujan, migratory marine fishes have been caught by fish corrals set across the outlets, but the catch along Pansipit River has fallen since the turn of the century and that in Butas River fell from 62 mt in 1977 to 17 mt in 1983. Catches of the endemic sardine Harengula tawilis in Lake Taal fluctuated between 4,400 mt in 1983 to 11,300 mt in 1990 and 1,400 mt in 1994. Cage culture of tilapia and milkfish has been going on in Lake Taal for 10 years. In Lakes Buhi and Bato, the endemic 'sinarapan' Mistichthys luzonensis almost disappeared due to fine-net fishing and tilapia stocking; catches have been 50-90 mt in 1983-93 but zero in 1994. -
Series: Summary of Proceedings No. 1/2013;
Save Lake Buhi now
(PCAARRD-DOST, 2013)Lake Buhi (Fig. 1) is found in Buhi, Camarines Sur. It is situated at the north-eastern part of Iriga City. The lake has an area of 18 km2 and has an average depth of 8 m. The lake lies in the valley formed by two ancient volcanoes, Mt. Asog and Mt. Malinao. It was formed in 1641 when an earthquake caused a side of Mt. Asog to collapse. The resulting landslide created a natural dam that blocked the flow of nearby streams. Another theory suggests that it was formed by the eruption of Mt. Asog, which is now dormant. The lake is the home of the world s smallest fish, sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis). Aside from sinarapan, it also home for other native freshwater fishes such as 'irin-irin' (Redigobius dispar), 'dalag' (Channa striata), 'puyo' (Anabas studines), 'kotnag' (Hemiramphus sp.), 'burirawan' (Strophidon sathete), and native catfish (Clarias sp.). Today, the lake is one of the major aquaculture areas in the Bicol Region where commercial production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is done. The lake supplies the fish demand in the province. But the cyclical occurrence of fish kills threaten the aquaculture industry in the lake. On October 31, 2010, a massive fish kill was again experienced that resulted to almost 75% loss of the lake s fish stocks. The incident calls for inter-agency planning and consultations to address the cause of fish kill and save Lake Buhi from further deterioration. One of the major solutions that arised was the implementation of the ten percent area utilization for aquaculture activity as prescribed in R.A 8550, also known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. Thus, on March 24, 2011, navigational lanes, buffer zones, fish sanctuaries and reserves, and fishcage belts in Buhi Lake were delineatedupon the request of Mayor Rey P. Lacoste of Buhi. -
Successful translocation of mountain Lake Makuwaw with sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis), the "world's smallest commercial fish"
(Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), 2005)Some 75,000 pieces of live sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) individuals were transferred to mountain Lake Makuwaw in San Ramon, Buhi, Camarines Sur in January to May 2001. Before the fish transfers, the lake was chosen from among four mountain lakes evaluated for their suitability for the fish. Five months before the direct live fish transfers, regular monthly seinings in the lake were done using fine-mesh push-net. No sinarapan or similar-looking small goby was found. This confirmatory survey was vital in evaluating the re-population strategy because it was ascertained that the new stock came from individuals stocked during the fish transfer activities. About 30-70% of the fish died during transport and until a day after each stocking of 15,000 per batch (with four batches a month). The minimum viable fish transfer quantity of 10,000 to 15,000 was estimated based from information on the population dynamics of the fish. Viable stock of the fish in the lake has thrived, matured, and bred as evidenced by live juvenile and gravid adult sinarapan sampled starting July 2001. Morphometrics and biological characteristics of the Makuwaw stock do not differ significantly (a=0.05) with those of the stock from Lake Manapao where the live sinarapan translocated were taken. From knowledge of the population dynamics and aspects of the reproductive biology of the fish, the change in the fish population in the lakes was quantified. Population analyses showed that the role of natural mortality is primary and critical to re-population success. Natural mortality is 95% and 99% for six-month and 12-month periods, respectively. Given the goby s high natural mortality, absence of pre- and post-hatching parental care, and the general vulnerability of eggs to environmental factors, the key biological determinants to successful re-population of the species are stocking at its viable quantity and meeting the basic life requirements of the fish. The social dimension related to community support and participation to strengthen network of protection for the sanctuaries is equally vital to sustain re-population efforts.
